Lubricant reservoir for journal bearing



June 21, 1955 F. D. BARBER 2,711,353L

LUBRICANT RESERVOIR FOR JOURNAL BEARING.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ill Filed Sept. 18, 1951 2 1 V V m T 32 INVENTOR. Bun/r1152. ,Bariaer June 21, 1955 D, BABER 2,711,353

LUBRICANT RESERVOIR FOR JOURNAL BEARING Filed Sept. 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J I f INVENTOR. E3 Franlrlzn Barber United States Patent o" LUBRICANT RESERVOIR FOR JOURNAL BEARING Franklin D. Barber, Flossmoor, 11L, assignor to Standard Car Truck Company, Chicago, Ill.,,fa corporation of New Jersey 7 1 j I p Application September 18, 1951, Serial No. 247,130

4 Claims; 01. 308-4 This invention relates generally to improvements in railway car journal lubrication and more particularly to means for continuously applying adequate lubricant, free from contamination, to an axle journal bearing of the car.

Railway car journal boxes, of conventional construc-.

tion, include a Wedge interposed between the' upper inside surface of the journal box and a journal bearing or brass, the latter of which is formedto seat' and make bearing contact with the upper surfaceof the axle journal. Such journal boxes are usually provided with oil saturated absorbent material, so-calledwaste-which is arranged within the journal box so as to co'ntact'the' under-side of the journal; the lubricant being carried from the oil saturated packing to the journalbearing by the rotation of the axle journal. .While the old'ty pe of lubrication was accepted as suitable'for slow moving traffic, the higher speeds now maintained for railway trafiic require more reliable lubrication.

With the view of providing more satisfactory lubrication, it has been previously proposed to provide a 111-.

bricant reservoir which cooperates with a journal bearing, the said reservoir encompassing the lower portion of the journal and is provided with means engaging the journal to seal the reservoir against loss of lubricant and also prevent the'entrance of foreign matter into the reservoir and bearing areas. However, under service conditions, the car body is subjected to lateral swaying movements, and these movements are transmitted through the journal box and associated devices to the journal bearing and, therefore, have a tendency to shift the journal bearing lengthwise of the axle journal. 'Such lengthwise shifting of the journal bearing naturallydmparts a corresponding movement to the lubricant reservoir'sus pended from the journal bearing. 7 Also the wheel and" axle assemblies move back and forth transversely of the track and therefore impart axial movement of the journal relative to the journal bearing. It is these relative axial movements and theirelfects in connection with a sealed-in journal that the present invention is adapted to overcome, since any substantial axial movement of the sealed-in axle journal relative to the bearing and its associated reservoir setsup a so-calledpumping action whereby moisture and foreign matter is .carried by the journal into the reservoir and increased internal pressure within the reservoir tends to force-' lubricant out through the reservoir sealing means.

Accordingly, it is a specific object of the'present invention to provide in connection with a sealed-in axle. journal improved arrangementstand constructions whereby the axle journal may move'freely in the direction of its length without imparting relative lengthwise movement between itself and its associated bearing element. In this connection, the invention contemplates the provision of a lubricating means, of the reservoir type, which may be suspended from a journal bearing member so that the journal beating and the reservoir e'mbracethe axle journal and will move with the journalwhenthe be 'insertedinto the journal box; p v

Fig. 4' is a'sectional view takenon' line of Fig. l;1' Fig} 5 is'a view in side 'elevation ofabearing plate similar t'o' theone shown in Fig. 3. but modified to sup latter shifts transversely-of a trackway in response to the operating conditions which producesuch movements of the axle. The construction also j includes the pro vision of roller elements which are interposed between" the journal bearing and the journal box and thereby" relieve the bearing element from'the thrust' of'lateral 1 sways of the car body. The-roller elementsare 'posi-" tioned to roll upon the journal bearing anrlytherebv relieve the journal bearing from the thrusts incidentto lateral movements of1the car body and also p'ermit th'e bearing element to move relative-to thejjournal box in unison with the axle oscillate transversely of the trackway.

Alfurther object of i the invention includes the pro vision of lubricating-means of the foregoingtype-which' may be readily applied to a conventional wise vinclude improvements which insure improved 1 brication at minimum cost.

A still further object of this invention isni pr 1 vision of improved lubricating means of the foregoing type which is more efficieut, more economical-jand more reliable than lubricating means heretofore employed? Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following desciiption taken with the drawings. Said drawings illustrate, a preferred embodiment of the invention and "what is"; now considered to be'the best 'mode of applying the Other embodiments ofthe invention as may fall within the purview and scope ot the 5 principles thereof.

appended claims are intendedto be reserved."

In the drawings Fig. 1 is adongitudina'l,vertical cross-sectional view through a railway car journalfbox'j having embodied therein the improved journaljlubricant j reservoir according to the present invention;

Fig. '2 isa transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 2'2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view partly in section and partlyi inelevation showing the journal bearingland'lubricant 4 reservoir assembled on an axle' journal in. readiness to a port the roller elements; and

ingsymy invention is illustrated in a journal box 10*0f a railway 12., The journal box'10'is the journal box- 10.

At the opposite end, the an opening 17 to receive an'axle journal 18 of a conventionalwheel axle 19'. Theaxle 19 is provided with a dust guard bearing 21 disposed between the axle jour-' 1 ml 18 and the axle body. 19. The journal box 10. being of conventional design, is provided with a dust guard slot 22 .Which, aswill be seen, is aligned with the dust guard bearing 21. and is'adaptedto receive a 'dust" guardf23 of any; suitable construction, the function of the; dust guard being to prevent the ingress of dirt'or' otherforeignmaterialsinside of the journalbox 10.

My'inve'ntion' is applicable to journal boxes and'axle journals ofsuch conventional construction and, in' th'ef embodiment illustrated, :includesva" bearing plate" 24 Patented June 21,

ournal when the" wheels and axle railway' car axle journal preliminary to insertion of the journal "and journal bearing into' the journal" box and which otheb cast integrallytherejournal box is providedfwith x)- underlying the top inside surface 26 of the journal box 10.- The bearing plate 24 isrprovided on its underside with bearing surfaces or grooves 27 for cooperation with anti-friction: rollers 28 resting; on; corresponding: bearing, surfaces; on grooves. 29 formed: in: the, upper surface of a? journal bearingz, member; 31. The 5 said.-

bearing rnember 31-. is: of conventional blockl form; comprising a unitary metal casting formed with a;concavet surfacezfort seating on the-rtop-surfaceof'the axle jour: nal.- The bearingsblockl therefore S81V6S1l1'116fi66t as a combination: jot-irnal-bearing and. support of. said antifriction. rollers-28; The rollers:,28sare-supported insa,

guide frame 32;; extending; axiallyof the: 3X18:19'3!1dfunctions:to-maintain-.-theI rollerss32. in parallel align; mentinv their: respective. bearing; grooves.-

are concavedzand. are formed with symmetricallyxgradually; curving. inclines: 33: Thus, when-1 the rollers-1 28E aretcausedr to move "laterally, as will. be hereinafter dfi'r scribed, the said1rollersride up on :thegraduallyrcurw ing inclines 33, wherebythe. bearing; plate: 24-: and: the? journal-box 10 are: caused to be elevated; thereby alifording resistance to lateral movemenhof the car-body; The..rollers 28 also perm-it the journal bearingg block to move. with thejournal. when the latter reciprocates backand'forthiin the journal-,rbox' in responseto: like shiftingtol" the Wheels and axle transversely of thetrackway asthewheels roll along the trackway.

The. journal bearing block 31 is provided with; a

journal bearing liner 34 ofbabbitt or other suitable bearing=,materialresting on top of the axle journal. 18. Depcndingvfromopposite sides of the member 31-. are extensions. 36,- each being. provided :Withralongitudinalr ly extending. groove 37 Suitably secured to the end face of the journal bearing block 31. is a'plate 38. of hardened metalarranged. to: take the end thrust; of the axle journal 18. The journalbearing block 31- is rev cessedas. at-39 toaocommodate an end collar 41 0f .the-

axle journal 18, the latter of which is preferably, though not necessarily, .intthe form ofa. cap 4-1 removably; secured to'th e. journal. by bolts 41': Attachedto thevertical'wall'ofthe recess 39 is a renewable metal thrust plate, 42, The clearances provided between the journallcollar 41 andktheplates 38rand 42 are suchthatonly a very limitedraxialmovement'ofthe journalibeari- 4 ing member 31 relative to the axle journal 18- issper-v mitted. The rearward face of the. journal bearing member, 31 isvprovidedwitha,shoulder.43 which substantiallj followstthe contour of the bearing linerz34s in the present embodiment,- thejournal bearing bl-oeks 1' 3l-is arranged to supporta lubricant-reservoir which will at all times maintain an adequate supply of? lubrica nt, ffee from=contamination,-. againsttthe. axle'jour nali 18. The said reservoir.- preferably is formedi of,

some" suitable oil. resistant flexible material, such, as' syntheticlrubberorl plastic although' it is to. be under stood. thatsthe said reservoir may beformed'zof sheet metal'. or other none-flexible. material. The: lubricant reservoir. 46/ is. generally. semi-cylindrical in shape; as

illhstratediinPig. 2, and includes an integral .frontwall 47 which is adapted to be secured tozthe plate -38 in lealrtigl-rtengagementv The longitudinal-marginal edges ofthe reservoir: 46 are each suitably molded-With a:

sealing lip 48,- the: said lips being received-'2 in; longitudinal recesses 37in the journal bearingill andzbeing securedslhereinzin. sealingengagement as with-bolts 49. Thcsaopposite end'ioflthe lubricant reservoir 46" is open andiisssecuredtmrigid metal member 51 in-th'e fonnof a l ring; which: is coextensive with the: Wall' of the reservoir lfiwandiis secured insany suitable manner, for example: by brazing, to theupper surface of said shoul der 43; of;journal bearing. 31.. Asian alternative, thesaid'iring SL may be molded integrally P with the reser= voirtand removabiyt secureditoithersaid shoulder 43 0f k the: journal bearing block. 31, andf serves 1 to maintain- The; rollers 28 are cylindrical and the;bearing surlfaces 27'and529- stretching of the material, the seal is overlapped as indi cated attfi in Figr 4.. The cross-sectional configuration ofthe'seal, when applied, is substantially as illustrated in Fig. l. The outer edge 53 of the seal is enlarged in the fornrroffas beadiandszis clamped. toilthe. marginal portion 56 of the reservoir.46 land.to the uppertportion of the ring member 51 by means ofa' transversely curved clamp ring 57. The outer perimeter of the said ring 51 is preferably formed with a concave surface complementary to theicontourof; the edgez53 -of; the:seal element so that when thesaid edge isengaged5with the said-:concavedsurface-sealing;,therewitlr\is=effected; It will-also be-ob served-that-thei marginal portion-5610f. the reservoiris flared outwardly, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 1. the said -marginal=portion 56 of the reservoir ringis'reinforced-by the 'ring memberr511it-Will be seenthatseale ing engagement-between the edge 53of the seal and the marginal portion. of. the reservoir may be readily etfectede The inner perimeter, 5 8-ofrthe annular; seal 52 is shaped in. cross section substantiallylike.that-illustrated in'Fig. 1 and is adaptedlltosengagenwiththe axlejournal 18 to provide. a highly efiicien-t-sealing contactitherewith, the

contact. being. such as to prevent the i escape of lubricant,-

but willpp ermitrelativerotational-movement ofvthesaxle journal '18. The: desiredlsealing contact Withthejournal 18. is.insuredbyrforming theiportion S8 with an annu lar recess inrwhichistzreceived a garter spring 59-wl1ich serves to maintain the said-inner: perimeter of the seal in intimate engagementawith,tlre-"axlet journal 18.- While the lip, and garter,typetof seal-is:=preferred in the assemblyv herein shown, other. types-of seals, including the.

carbon .ringand labyrinth types may; be. used.

it .twillibe apparent .from theforegoing, description that thetaxle journaltm, lubricant reservoir 46 and journal bearing, block 31.. comprise a unitary sealed structure. whichtisscontained within. a conventional journal boxandwhich ;is. independent of. thesaid journal box .so that it may moverelative, theretor Thesaid bearinghowever is adaptedlto fit closely; Within theupper portion of the journal .box'jso that lateral movement ofthe bearing block 31 and th'e-vaxle 5011111131.:18rl613tll6 to the side walls of the'journal box is substantially eliminated.-

When. the. reservoir; is formedof flexible materials a stifienertplateifl is;p referably; secured to the bottomsurface oli the rese-rvoir so as toavoidunduedistortion thereoft,

Therplatefifi is providedfwith- ;an aperture closed by a suitable? plugfid; the said} aperture providing "an" opening; throughswhich :lubricatin-goi'l :may' betintroduced' into' the reserv0ir:46:--.

One ofithecimportanttfeatures of'the presentinvention is that the: journal bearing block: 311 and lubricant reservoir; 46*:may beiassembledron'the axle journal18 exteriorly oftherjournal box: 10 and the assembled StYUC ture'may then5be introduced through the opening 17 in the journal box tocompltethe assembly. The use of the present-'- invention does not require any structural modifications' 'in thejournal-box orin'the axle'journal itselff However; as a matter" of" convenience to facilitate emergency repairs; should such'repairs be required while-a car is in service; the collar'41 of the journal may beremovabl-y attached to the journal 'as'b'y stud 'bolts4l i When installing my invention,- theaxle19-is first withdrawn from-its respectivejournal'box according tea well knownpraetice and while so-removedthe split seal 52 is applied *to the axle journal 18, and'thegarter spring 59' is then app'lieduo the seal 52-inthe' manner illustrated Since I plate 24 and the rollers are then inserted through the front opening of the journal box and located therein for operation. The insertion of the top bearing plate and rollers to their operative positions above the journal bearing is facilitated by raising the journal box relative to the axle until the said plate and rollers are properly posi-' tioned. The reservoir 46 is filled with lubricant through the opening 64 to any desired level so that the lubricant will be in contact with the under side of the axle journal 18. Thus, in the rotation of the axle journal the lubricant is carried to the bearing surface 34 of the journal bearing block 31. 7

Referring now to Figs. and 6 of the drawings, the top bearing plate designated 24 is provided with' side flanges 24 at opposite sides of the plate. The rollers designated 28 are provided with trunnions 28 28 which extend into slots 24 formed in the pending sideflanges of the plate 24*. The slots 24 are preferably formed to conform with the configuration of the surfaces 27 defining the bearing seats for thesaidrollers 28". In order to facilitate insertion of the rollers in space defined by the flanges 24, one of the trunnions is in the form of a threaded stud screwed into the correspondingly threaded central bore in one end of the roller. The rollers 28 will function in the same manner as herein described with reference to rollers 28.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that in operation, the journal bearing block 31 as also the lubricant reservoir 46 will move axially substantially as a unit with the axle journal 18. Thus, there is no relative axial movement between the bearing block 31 and the axle journal 18 such as would cause the axle journal to act' in the. nature of a piston in a pump system to carry moisture and foreign matter into the lubricant reservoir and onto bearing surfaces, and force oil out of the reservoir through the seal 52. Any movement of the axle transversely of the truck side frames 11, 12 is taken up between the bearing plates 24-24. and the rollers2828 and is not transmitted to the bearing block 31. It will be seen, because the grooves 27 and 29 have curving inclines, that while lateral movement between'the bearing plate 24 or 24 and bearing block 31'may occur, the particular configuration of the grooves 27' and 29 afford a certain degree of resistance to lateral movement thereby holding the same down to a minimum.

While the invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments which it may assume in prac tice, it is not intended that the invention be limited to an axle journal positioned therein, of means for supportan axle journaljpositioned therein, of means forflsupport ing the journal box on the axle journal with capacity for axial movements of the journal and box relative to each.

other comprising an assembly removably supported on the axle journal and including a journalbearing block seated on the top portion of the journal and a lubricant reservoir cooperating'with said bearing block to provide a sealed enclosure for said axle journal and includingan end wall portionsecured to an end portion of said bearing block and including means providing sealing engagement with said journal to prevent ingress of foreign matter and loss of lubricant, a bearing plate'positioned in the journal box above saidbearing block, and rollers interposed between the bearing blockand said bearing plate and positioned to roll lengthwise ofthe journal; the said bearing block being provided with thrust bearing surfaces for engaging portions of the axle journal; whereby the said bearing block and lubricant reservoir are moved axially of the journal box in unison with the axle journal. v

2 In combination with a railway car'jo'urnal box and ing the: journal box'on the axle journal with capacity for axial movements of the journal and box relative toeach other comprising an assembly removably -supported on the axle journal and including a journal bearing block seated on the top portion of the journal and a lubricant reservoir cooperating with said bearing block to provide a sealed enclosure for said axle journal and including a flexible end wall portion secured to an endportion of'- said bearing block and having a portion thereof in sealing' engagement with said journal to ,prevent ingress of of the journal; the said bearing block being provided with thrust bearing 'surfacesfor engaging. portions of the axle journal, whereby the, saidbearing block and lubri foreign matter and loss of lubricant, a bearing plate fixedly mounted in the journal .box abovesaid bearing block and rollers interposed between the bearing block and said bearing .plate and positioned to rolllengthwise cant reservoir are moved axially of the journal box in unison with the axle journal.

the terms of the embodiment shown nor otherwise than by the terms of the claims here appended.

I claim: 1. In combination with a railway car journal box and 3. A combination structure as defined in claim 2 characterized in that one thrust bearing surface. of said bearing blockis an end' wall which extends downwardly in front of the outer end portionofsaidaxle journal. 4. A combination structure as defined in claim 3 char.

acterized in that the axle journal is' provided'atits outer" end with a radially extending flange and in that the said bearing block is provided with a radial recess which fits" over said radial flange to provide said thrust bearing sur- 7 I Horger Mar. 23, 19 48 

